An aspirant for Montserrado County Electoral District 10, Y. Solomon W. Watkins, has broken ground for the construction of a cafeteria to for the Peace Island Community public school located in the Congo Town area.
Peace Island Community which is commonly referred to as “540 Community” is located in the Township of Congo Town, behind the ministerial complex.
The community got its named “540” due to the huge settlement of disbanded officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia who received US$540 as resettlement benefits.
The Peace Island Community public school was constructed during the leadership of the district former representative, the late Julius Berrian.
The project, which began on June 27, is expected to cost over 300,000 Liberian dollars with support from Mr. Watkins through the Watkins Initiative For Nations (WIN) in collaboration with the student council government (SCG) of the public school.
The president of the SCG, student Mercy Sondah, termed the cafeteria construction project by the representative hopeful as a dream come true for her leadership at the school.
According to student leader Sondah, the student council government observed that there are no recreation or leisure centers for students except for their classrooms where they sit during recess for leisure and lunch.
“It is even worse during the rains,” she asserted.
She informed this paper that the student council government engaged Mr. Watkins through a team that visited their school to conduct assessment for the construction of a Palava hut project. “After carrying out donation of umbrella and other accessories amongst students and residents of this community, we used the occasion to put the students plight before and asked that he help us with a cafeteria since there is nowhere for us to sit and eat during recess and in in less than two days, we Watkins informed us that he will underwrite the cost of the project,” Student Mercy noted.
She pointed out that her government had discussed with the administration of the school on her to remedy the situation, but to no avail. “So, we asked Mr. Watkins to help and he gracefully agreed. He will remain grateful to him,” student Sondah said showing her bright teeth.
For his part, the Montserrado County Electoral District 10 hopeful vowed to do more for the student community and residents of Peace Island (540) as well as all other communities of District 10 at any given time.
“I am glad that all of these good things are being said about me by people of our district. We appreciate the student community and will do all in our powers to protect your interest as always,” Mr. Watkins said.
“Let me say to Mercy that before your leadership thought about reaching out to us, we have seen the construction of the cafeteria and the Palava Hut as needs based on our previous visit on your campus. But the good news is, you have made a choice, for this we have all gathered here to do what we are asked to do. Let me promise our students and residents of District 10 that we will stand to support you as always,” Watkins promised.
